Whose children pay taxes?

 

It is common to talk about Tax Payers'

money, but who are the tax payers? Nigeria's budget looks nowhere like what I was taught in school.

A Budget is a plan of Income and Expenditure but Nigeria's Budgets over the years are notorious for having only Expenditure.

The nearest to balancing the presentation with an income is to state the benchmark in respect of the Price of Crude Oil in the International Market.

With the picture above, it becomes obvious why Nigerians can talk about Tax Payers' without doing anything to Tax defaulters.

Remember the story in the Bible about those whose children pay tax, whether it is sons of the soil or foreigners? And the answer that was given?

Well in developed countries tax evasion is a big deal and big men go to jail for tax evasion. In Nigeria, it is civil servants and 9 to 5 workers who pay tax.

One man businesses, musicians and entertainers do not pay tax. However, this refers to Direct taxes like Pay As You Earn ( PAYE).

Direct taxes are direct and can be evaded under the watch of rent seekers. Indirect taxes are a different kettle of fish. They are more difficult to avoid. These include Value Added Tax and Witholding Tax.

While, the low and Medium income earners pay tax, the big business men pay little or no tax and have enough to spray at parties.

We all require top notch infrastructure but fail to pay for it. Custom Duties come aplenty in an import dependent Economy like Nigeria's but to what use is it put? 

A lot comes in from Corporate Income Tax among others but to what use are they put?

Until, the rich and powerful like Chairmen of different levels of Road Transport Workers begin to pay Tax on monies collected from drivers, accounting for tax money will continue to be a mirage.

Nigeria's problem in this regard lies on overdependence on Oil money. Whose money is it?

Norway saves it's Oil money. Nigeria can survive on taxes. Let the rich pay tax and let's see, who will embezzle their money?

In the villages poor people contribute money that the rich embezzle. Let the rich contribute and let's see if the poor would be able to embezzle it?

Developed countries do not joke with their taxes. Let us follow suit and then talk about Tax Payers' money until then the tax payers in Nigeria should see themselves as the children of foreigners and the rich who do not pay tax as sons of the soil.